🎓 Prepared by students from Boğaziçi University

How to Tell Time in English?

Telling time in English involves reading the hour and minute hands on a clock and expressing the time in words. There are two main formats: 12-hour (AM/PM) used in the US, UK and other countries, and 24-hour format used internationally. Mastering time vocabulary is essential for daily conversation.

Short answer

Telling time means reading a clock and expressing hours and minutes. Use "It is [hour]:[minutes]" or say "[hour] o'clock" for whole hours, with AM for morning and PM for afternoon/evening.

Steps to Tell Time

1
1. Read the hour hand
The short hand shows the hour (1–12).
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2
2. Read the minute hand
The long hand shows minutes (0–60), each mark = 5 min.
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3
3. Say the time
Combine: 'It is [hour]:[minutes]' or '[hour] o'clock'.
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4
4. Add AM or PM
AM (morning 12 AM–12 PM noon), PM (afternoon/evening).

Step-by-step worked examples

It is 3 o'clock in the afternoon. How do you say this?

The hour is 3 and minutes are 0 (whole hour).
Say: 'It is three o'clock' or 'It is 3:00 PM'.
PM = afternoon/evening time.

The clock shows 7:45. Write the time in words.

Hour hand is between 7 and 8; minute hand is on 9 (45 minutes).
Say: 'It is seven forty-five' or 'It is a quarter to eight' or '7:45 AM/PM'.

What time is it if the hour hand points to 12 and minutes are 30?

Hour is 12, minutes are 30 (half hour).
Say: 'It is twelve thirty' or 'It is half past twelve' or '12:30 AM/PM'.

Flashcards

Quick quiz

Q1.If it is 8:00 PM, what does PM mean?

Correct answer: B. PM stands for 'post meridiem' (after noon) and means afternoon or evening time.

Q2.What time is shown if the hour hand points to 2 and the minute hand points to 12?

Correct answer: B. When the minute hand points to 12, it is a whole hour. The hour hand pointing to 2 means 2:00.

Q3.How do you say 4:15?

Correct answer: A. '4:15' is said as 'four fifteen' or 'a quarter past four'.

Q4.How many minutes does each number on a clock represent?

Correct answer: A. Each number on the clock represents 5 minutes (12 = 0, 1 = 5, 2 = 10, etc.).

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Common mistakes

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The long hand shows the hour. — Correct: The long hand shows the minutes; the short hand shows the hour.

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PM is morning time. — Correct: PM is afternoon and evening; AM is morning.

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Each number means 1 minute. — Correct: Each number means 5 minutes on the minute hand.

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12:00 PM is midnight. — Correct: 12:00 PM is noon (midday); 12:00 AM is midnight.

FAQ

How to tell time in English?

Read the hour hand (short) for the hour, the minute hand (long) for minutes, and add AM/PM.

What time format is used in English-speaking countries?

12-hour format with AM (morning) and PM (afternoon/evening) is common in the US, UK, etc.

How do you say quarter past and half past?

Quarter past = 15 minutes past the hour; half past = 30 minutes past the hour.

What is the difference between digital and analog time?

Analog uses a clock face with hands; digital displays numbers on a screen.